What’s better than a $60 hamburger for lunch? How about steak and lobster at Red Lobster? The cool thing about a steak and lobster lunch is it actually cost less than the $60 hamburger. The first Red Lobster opened its door in Lakeland, Fla., in 1968. Today, Red Lobster has has nearly 700 locations across the US and Canada and is part of the Darden Restaurants empire, which includes the Olive Garden, Smokey Bones and Bahama Breeze.
As successful as Red Lobster sounds, I have to wonder about the sign stating shoes and shirt required. I can only assume this is a throw-back to their original store in hot and sunny Florida. I can’t imagine someone going into a Red Lobster without shoes or shirts in cold and rainy Seattle.
The Starter Salad
All main courses begin with a nice refreshing salad. I topped mine with Italian dressing while Sarah went with the 1000 Island. There is also a bottomless basket of freshly baked Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
Endless Shrimps
Endless Shrimps happens once a year at Red Lobster and it’s great for someone who’s really hungry and loves shrimps. You get to choose from five types of shrimps: Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Hand-Breaded Shrimp, Shrimp Linguini Alfredo, Crunchy Popcorn Shrimp or the new Buffalo Shrimp.
Choose two of your favorites to start. When you’re ready for more, they’ll bring it. My favorite of the five was the Garlic Shrimp Scampi. Man, it was good! I think we order five plates. I also like the Buffalo Shrimps.
Steak and Lobster
Steak and Lobster is normally part of the dinner menu but Red Lobster will make any dinner item for lunch. I ordered the New York strip steak with rock lobster tail. The lobster was great but the steak was just a tad over done.
The service at Red Lobster was exceptional. Our server was friendly and answered all our questions. Lunch for Sarah and myself came to $70, which is only $10 more than one $60 hamburger. It’s too bad there are no Red Lobsters in Vancouver. I would have steak and lobster for lunch more often.
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I might have to go there for lunch now!
Same here. Down here in America we have Red Lobsters and Olive Gardens everywhere
Now you say that I really miss my times in US.
I’m in Winnipeg, Manitoba and we have them all over too. Great restaurants.
There’s only one left dude, I live here too
Isn’t there two Red Lobsters? The one on Pembina closed, but I thought it just relocated. There’s two or three Olive Gardens though (I think).
I live in Canada and we have Red Lobsters and Olive Gardens everywhere too… Calgary.
Seen many of the in Toronto too – just not a fan of seafood
MMMMM Olive Garden, great salad
Good thing is I am going out right now
are they the same as in US?
I like the bread….but now I am thousand of miles away from US
haha I just ate at red lobster… but its crab cracking monday so 1/2 off snow crab legs
Why your majority articles is about food? You like eating?
Don’t you?
Especially Cows
mm yeah, a nice slice of that soft meat…yummie
I want some red wine too, thanks.
lol. funneh. Anyway, this is a personal blog so its normal to see posts about food
We have a Red Lobster here and I gotta tell you, it’s not that good. I know it sounds pretty sad, but around here, Red Lobster and Olive Garden are considered by most as Fine Dining. To me it’s on the verge of “fast food” seafood. I almost equate it to Long John Silvers. I am surprised that they don’t have some locally owned quality sea food shacks up there in a coastal state like that. I know in Maine there are all kinds of great little “Mom and Pop” seafood shops that will knock your socks off.
I too miss Red Lobster – and those pictures were just torture… Tease!
Mmmm… lobster…. *drools*
Lunch is definitely priced good around here. The biscuits weight what 5 pounds? My local one is within walking distance of the house.
Red lobster is a great place to eat lunch or dinner. http://locator.redlobster.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?template=search&client=redlobster
wIll direct you to the nearest location.
I really miss Red Lobster here in the UK. The cheddar bay biuscuits are still something that come up in my dreams they are friggin melt in your mouth awesome.
Sea Food is what I call REAL FOOD. My favorites Lobsters.
I used to love eating there but I stopped going there because there’s always crazy lineups !
Good deal John on that lunch, Red Lobster is always a favorite of mine..and thanks for making many of us HUNGRY…..
Looks fantastic!
OK,NOW I have to go and eat something …
John – you eat so much I’m surprised you haven’t exploded. How come you are so skinny?
You have to workout like crazy!
I guess its too much workout for me.
Wow funny to see red lobster on the net. There all closing in my city just one left. I guess Winnipeg is not that big on sea food.
Red Lobster is the only decent seafood place we have in my town.
Haven’t tried the endless shrimp yet. Seems like it would be wasted on me. I haven’t been able to truly take advantage of anything “bottomless” in a while.
i love the crab lingiuni alfredo @ red lobster. the cheddar biscuits are out of this world.
John continues to tantalize us with some of these mouth-watering dishes …. this is real food for Real Dot Com Monguls …. LOL
Dude. I need to be a Real Dot Com Mogul then… fooooood…
All the Red Lobster stores near us closed down, same with Sizzler. Since I live in a bay community though, we have a wharf that has some of the best seafood in the state. The Stagnaro family which owns most of the restaurants and businesses on the wharf has been here since the town was founded so getting quality lobster and other seafood is easy, and reasonably priced.
So, according to that Red Lobster sign…you don’t need to wear pants? Just shoes and shirt. Interesting.
We always needed signs like that down here in South. They usually read:
“No Shirt, No shoes, No Service”
It’s usually warm down here and if you have reneck tendencies like myself then you might forget. Also remember not to pour out your beer first too.
Hmmm, wish they had this in the UK!
You really need to hit some of the little shoreside restaurants along the Florida Gulf Coast (aka Redneck Rivera) if you’re ever down this way. You’ll never want Red Lobster again or at least you’ll consider it sub-standard.
Darn it! I just finished eating dinner and now I’m hungry again! thanks.
The Red Lobster in Montgomery ,Alabama has really good food,fresh!!!Also very good service.But yesterday we had Lunch at Olive Garden ,Columbus,Georgia was not that good.Even though we made reservation,we still have to wait 30 minutes.They have all you can eat pasta,7 differents kinds with 5 different kinds of sauce.But,after one plate, you wouldn’t want another plate. Service was average though.
Red Lobster’s biscuits are TO DIE FOR. zOMG. I once went on a ten minute rant to my waitress about how awesome they are, and she brought me a bag of 12 of them to take with me, on the house. She got a nice tip, too
I forgot about their biscuits. I wish you could order them in bulk or something to make at home (or can you)?
That looks sooo good I wish they were open right now!
Hey that’s Yummy !!!
John you really party man !!!
I love the way you go out to explore new places and new cuisines.
Dang, looks like a quality feed!
Great … now I’m hungry
How come you’re not a big fat knacker? When you’re not eating you must be running on the spot or something
In many restaurants in the old British Empire, notices reading as “Rights of Admission Reserved” to enable the management to evict improperly attired guests and the occasional misbehaving colonial! The notice outside is certainly enigmatic.
As a coastal man, I personally would never combine sea food with something like steak. For us it is sacrilege!
Red Lobster is my favorite seafood restaurant and I think the only place I have been that you have “reviewed” hah. Unfortunately, most of my friends hate seafood so I rarely get to go
Compared to the cost of some of your other meals, this one seems rather down to earth in terms of price.
Man… I wish they have that here in Australia.
I’m craving for Lobsters!
it’s such a challenge to go to your blog john every time i’m here. i’m on a fasting month and the food is just so tempting!
The other day I was debating what to have for lunch. Red Lobster crossed my mind, but only as a fluttering thought. The focus of my internal struggle was whether to get dirty and eat at Chang’s Mongolian Grill (Similar to Wok-In), or to stay above the belt and go to a local soup and sandwich spot. Fortunately, my head took control of the situation and I had a delicious grilled cheese for lunch. Next time I’ll be sure to take photos.
Maybe there should be another blog about “Lunch times with a Dot Com Mogul”
I’m sure you enjoyed the cheese biscuits!!